Take the train to Lhasa | Do you want to experience the 36-hour hard-seat journey?

Henry Miller once said: "The purpose of our travels is never a geographical term, but to acquire a new perspective on things."

She wants to go to Tibet and experience Tibetan Buddhism; while I want to go to Qinghai to see the sky, and I also want to see the blue sky and white clouds in the magical Tibet.

She is innocent, in Wuhan; and I am in Chengdu.

After two days of negotiation, we determined the general route: Chongqing-Tibet-Xining. During the trip, we added the city of Xi'an. In the end, our route was: Chongqing-Tibet-Xining-Xi'an, which lasted 16 days, and finally started from Xi'an. Everyone goes back to their homes.

On July 27, we met in Chongqing and felt the enthusiasm of this stove city.

We arrived in Chongqing at around three o'clock in the afternoon. The weather was excellent with blue sky and white clouds, and the ground was as hot as a furnace. Holding a sun umbrella and walking on the concrete floor, I was sweating profusely every minute, and my whole body felt like it was about to be roasted.



Because we arrived in Lhasa after ten o'clock in the evening, we booked a hotel to take a rest. We originally planned to go for a walk in the streets of Chongqing, but we didn't want to go out after entering the air-conditioned room. After taking a short break, Miss Wuxie went downstairs to pack Chongqing noodles and red oil noodles.

Miss Wu Xie said: "Why are these Chongqing noodles so unpalatable? The hot dry noodles from Wuhan are the most delicious." Well, the food near the train station is not delicious. It seems to be a common problem in every city?



Z223 Chongqing-Lhasa, the journey to Lhasa begins on the train.

After eating and resting enough, it’s time to set off. Z223 Chongqing-Lhasa, enter the station from the south square of Chongqing North Railway Station to check in.

Well, I don’t know why Chongqing North Railway Station is divided into north and south squares, and there is a big circle from the south square to the north square. The South Square is where ordinary trains enter the station, and the North Square is where high-speed trains usually enter the station. (In order not to go to the wrong place, we specifically consulted the hotel proprietress and she said this.)



A 36-hour hard-seat journey, the first time I experienced an oxygen car, the first time I experienced taking a train and having to sign a "life and death certificate".

Hard seat 36 hours. Because this departure was a temporary uprising, we didn’t buy a sleeper berth. We stayed in hard seats for almost 36 hours. This train was not a direct train. We changed trains in Xining halfway, from an ordinary train to an “oxygenated train” specially used to enter Tibet. . Because when entering Tibet, the Qinghai-Tibet Line passes through the Tanggula Mountains, and the highest altitude it passes is more than 5,000 meters, so the train needs to have an oxygen supply function to provide sufficient oxygen to relieve your high altitude sickness.





Passenger Health Registration Card. Tibet is a sacred place. Because of its high altitude, not everyone can enter Tibet, but generally 99% of people can adapt. Presumably to avoid risks or as a safety reminder, every passenger must fill in this health registration card to show that you already know the matters listed in the "Plateau Travel Tips".

Well, for those of us who entered Tibet for the first time, it felt like signing a life and death certificate, haha.





The Qinghai-Tibet line passes by the beautiful Qinghai Lake and crosses the uninhabited area of ​​Hoh Xil. The scenery along the way is breathtaking, which makes these 36 hours more interesting.

Along the Qinghai Lake, the beautiful rapeseed flowers are in full bloom in July and August. I used my mobile phone to take pictures of many beautiful scenery along the way on the train. Although we will come here again in a few days, I couldn't help but take pictures when I saw the beautiful scenery.



It’s also great to come down and take photos at the stations you pass by.

Taking photos may be the most fun thing during the long drive. When passing by a platform, come out for some fresh air and help the young ladies take beautiful photos. Platform, blue sky, white clouds, green train, and a traveler on the road.





At 10 a.m. on July 29, I arrived in Lhasa and had a bowl of Chongqing noodles.

When I came out, I saw that there was no blue sky and white clouds, which made me feel heartbroken. The square of Lhasa Railway Station is empty and no photography is allowed. There are soldiers guarding the area.



Before departure, we had already booked a tour group here for 6 days and 5 nights, so after getting off the bus, we followed the person who picked us up to the hotel.

The driver is a Sichuan fellow. He said that Lhasa is like a small Sichuan. The streets are full of Sichuan food and there are many Sichuan people. Among the Sichuan people, the Suining people are the most numerous.

Finally, the chef took us to a Chongqing noodle shop, which he said was the best and cheapest he had ever eaten.

Well, this bowl of noodles costs 13 yuan (generally 16-18 yuan in other places, which is much cheaper), and it's a bit more delicious than what I had at Chongqing Station before.



As mentioned before, we signed up for a 6-day and 5-night tour, which costs about 2,500 for individual travelers. The cost includes accommodation, meals (breakfast, dinner), tickets, transportation fees, and tour guide fees.

Although it lasted six days, the first day was to pick up the group and the last day was to drop the group off. In total, there were only four days of fun, so the trip was still easy.

During the six days in Lhasa, we visited Zongjiao Lukang Park, Yamdrok Yumco, Larola Glacier, Tashilhunpo Monastery, Luolin Village, Namtso, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Bajiao Street.

I went to Zongjiao Lukang Park and walked all the way, meeting the blue sky and white clouds, and the people on the train.

As soon as we arrived at the hotel and signed the contract with Director Luo of the travel agency, we planned to take a nap. After all, we didn’t get a good rest on the train for two days, and my head felt dizzy. However, the more I slept, the more my head hurt. I guess it was a high fever. Finally, we Decided to go for a walk.

Blue sky and white clouds. The weather in Lhasa is also very changeable. In the morning there were only thick gray clouds, but by this time it was blue sky and white clouds, and the sky was clear. I felt much better and felt less dizzy. Well, the beautiful scenery is the best anti-hyperglycemic medicine for me.





Encountering people on the train . We started from the hotel and walked all the way towards the Potala Palace. On the way, I met aunties who came by train together and were looking for a place to stay.

They said they had booked it online before, but later they felt that the road was too bad and the room was not good, so they canceled the hotel. There are not enough rooms where their children live. After the children have been arranged, they are left to find accommodation on their own. We also helped them look around for a while, taught them how to find accommodation online, and gave them suggestions.

They were traveling from Hainan, and they probably decided to visit Lhasa on the spur of the moment. Everything felt like a rush.

Therefore, here is a suggestion that if you want to come to Tibet, you should prepare in advance to avoid anxiously searching for an apartment in the streets. It is expensive and exhausting your brain. Well, it is really difficult.



Zongjiao Lukang Park. This is a small park near the Potala Palace. You can see the magical Potala Palace in the park. It’s also great to take photos here, with the turquoise lake, the magical Potala Palace, blue sky, white clouds, egrets flying freely on the lake, and fish swimming in the water.



Here is a beautiful photo of an innocent young lady, facing the magical Potala Palace. What is she thinking?



The young lady said that the white clouds in the sky look like a pair of big wings. Do you think they look like it?



Looking up at the Potala Palace under the blue sky and white clouds, it looks as spectacular as a palace in the sky.



We stayed here for a while, because Miss Wuxie said that he wanted to take pictures of some distinctive characters, so he needed to wait for a while.

It probably looks like this, Tibetans wearing Tibetan costumes walking under the Potala Palace.



In the park, there are also special entertainment activities here. I don’t know what this is called, but I think it’s quite special. They speak Tibetan loudly and shout. It’s probably their way of entertainment and leisure.



Pigeons in the park. The pigeons here are not afraid of people at all. They don’t care if they walk in and take pictures. Don’t worry that they will fly away. Pigeons forage leisurely on the grass or walk together by the lake.



The pigeons walking are like a pair of romantic young lovers, walking in tandem by the lake with blue sky, white clouds and clear sky. You follow me and I follow you, walking slowly and enjoying this quiet life.



There are fish in paradise. If you ask me, are there fish in heaven? I will answer yes, if you don’t believe me, look at the picture below. Do the red and black fish seem to be swimming in the sky?



This is the first day in Lhasa. I saw the blue sky and white clouds, viewed the magical Potala Palace from a distance, and felt the life atmosphere of the plateau people.

In the next two days, we went with the group to Yamdrok Yumco, Karola Glacier, Tashilhunpo Monastery, and Luolin Village. I will show you the beautiful scenery and experiences we saw along the way in the next article.

Along the way, I like to present the beautiful scenery along the way according to the timeline. Recording the beautiful moments with simple words along the memory is also a kind of travel.

Thank you for your patience in reading. If you like it, remember to give it a like!